We never threatened to force Saraki out of office, says Miyetti Allah

The national leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has denied ever threatening to force the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki out of office if he fails to resign immediately.

In a statement by the National Secretary, Baba Uthman Ngelzarma, on Wednesday, the national body dissociated itself from a statement credited to one of its members, Garus Gololo, who had in an interview in Benue state threatened the association will force Saraki out if he does not resign immediately.

Recall that the national coordinator of the association in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, had given the warning in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday.

Gololo had threatened Saraki saying, it was “tired of Saraki’s style of leadership at the National Assembly” and because it “is looking for a leader that would preside over the affairs of the Senate with ultimate respect for the executive and the judiciary,” then Saraki must resign or be it would remove him from office.

“Miyetti Allah is looking for a leader that would preside over the affairs of the Senate with ultimate respect for the executive and the judiciary, not someone like Senator Saraki that would always scheme to outdo the Presidency.

“We are now tired of Saraki’s style of leadership at the National Assembly. Therefore, we are now warning him to honourably resign his position as president of the Senate or we will force him out,” the association was quoted saying.

However, in a swift denial, the national body of the association said “Garos Gololo spoke in his personal capacity and has no mandate to speak on behalf of the association.”

It said the association is a non partisan body with no interest in the political terrain and hence, couldn’t meddle into the affairs of political actors thereby compounding already obvious challenges it faces.

It said it would sanction the Benue member who issued such threat.

The statement reads thus:

“The attention of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has been drawn to an interview granted by one Garus Gololo in Makurdi to Punch Newspaper titled ‘Resign or we will force you out’. Miyetti Allah to Saraki. This statement is unfortunate. I will categorically state that Garos Gololo spoke in his personal capacity and has no mandate to speak on behalf of the association.

Miyetti Allah is a non partisan association with no interest in the political terrain and we couldn’t meddle into the affairs of political actors thereby compounding our already obvious challenges. I therefore urge all and sundry to disregard this statement. This statement is not from MACBAN and should be disregarded in its entirety. We take exception on this statement and Garos Gololo is entirely on his own and will be sanctioned accordingly. We cannot afford to add up to the many challenges we are confronted with.

I’m therefore appealing to the general public to disregard this statement as it is coming from someone who doesn’t have the mandate of the association to speak on its behalf. Thank You and God bless you all.”